City gets first look at new budget

Published 5:00 am Wednesday, July 31, 2002

A variety of expenditure decisions — from paving to pay raises– remain after Brookhaven aldermen got their first look Tuesday atbudget requests and plans for the new fiscal year that starts Oct.1.

Aldermen, Mayor Bill Godbold and City Clerk Iris Rudman held thefirst work session to begin reviewing revenue and expenditureproposals for the upcoming year. Revenue is expected to be downsome, from $7.4 million to around $6.9 million, for the generalfund.

“We didn’t put in any more than what we know we’ve got comingin,” Rudman said.

Subscribe to our free email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

Rudman said the same property tax levy would bring in $1.39million next year, which is about $350,000 more than this year.Aldermen said last night they have no plans to raise the propertytax millage levy.

“You can go up on the money without going up on the millage,”said Rudman, who attributed the expected revenue increase todifferences in property assessments.

In other revenue matters, budget writers planned no increase inthe $3.725 million the city receives from sales tax. Other revenueareas increased or decreased slightly.

The amount the city receives from the state in homesteadexemption credit reimbursement is expected to be down about half to$45,000. Also, a First and Second Street paving project is beingdone this year, so over $600,000 for that will be not be repeatednext year.

While revenue is a relatively known quantity, decisions on howthe money will be spent are just beginning. Aldermen last nightdelayed discussion of pay raises until other spending plans arebetter defined.

“We may not have any money left over. That’d take care of that,”said Alderman-at-large Les Bumgarner.

Pay raise amount requests from departments heads for employeesin their areas were described as ranging from “pretty good,””average,” to “tremendous.” Percentages mentioned were from around5 percent to 30 percent.

Although no decisions were made, aldermen discussed thepossibility of cost of living increases.

Ward 3 Aldermen the Rev. Jerry L. Wilson questioned how much thecity would be giving to various support agencies. With the city’sfunds, he said those agencies are able to give raises to theiremployees, but the city may not be able to do the same for itsworkers.

“It’s something wrong with that picture,” Wilson said.

Wilson continued his criticism during a discussion aboutambulance funding. Aldermen agreed to include $40,000, which is$10,000 less than the ambulance service requested, in the newbudget.

“We need to take care of our own,” Wilson said in lobbying boardmembers against deciding on an ambulance amount.

In other budget areas, planned expenditures for routine itemssuch as communications, utilities and oil and gas for vehicles wererelatively unchanged. A number of other decisions will need inputfrom department heads who were not present Tuesday night.

In police department matters, aldermen included $125,000 forfive new vehicles, but additional equipment purchases remainedunclear. The budget also includes no designated funds for apossible department move to the old Mississippi Highway Patrolsubstation.

“I think it’s going to cost us to move out there,” Bumgarnersaid.

Godbold said the agreement between the city and county calls forthe city to get a refund of some of its government complex if itmoves. He did not have a definite amount.

The city’s recreation department has requested $709,119 infunding next year, which is over $288,000 more than its currentyear budget. The request includes money for four new tennis courtsand Alexander Teen Center repairs.

Aldermen were skeptical of the increase. Godbold said the boardshould at least consider two new tennis courts.

“We’ve put them off the last three budget years,” the mayorsaid.

Other unknowns needing more definite estimates includeannexation expenses, multi-modal facility revenue and expendituresand paving for the downtown area.

Godbold suggested the board look at costs of downtown paving in1985 and add about 25 percent for budget purposes. City officialssaid there will be a need to pave downtown after storm drain andwater line projects are completed.

To answer budget-related questions, aldermen are expected tomeet with department heads Tuesday during a work session after theregular board meeting. A budget timetable discussed last night hasaldermen approving a new year budget Sept. 3.